In between writing my Master Thesis and trying not to disappoint my Internship supervisor, I took the liberty (and three days) to show Indi a bit of Belgium. Not exactly for her benefit mind you. But because an old friend asked me what being Belgian means to me.

Isaac Newton famously said: “If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants”. This holds true for countries as well, and in England’s case, we can most definitely speak of a Belgian Giant.

Admittedly it wasn’t easy leaving Japan behind. In many senses I haven’t yet. I carried home hundreds of articles and papers for my thesis. I maintain links to friends and…